Stuck In a Dream

Special

Zara rushed into the cafeteria to meet her friends, she missed all her morning classes.

"Hey Zar, did you just get here?" Scarlett, her best friend, asked. 

"Yeah, it happened again." Zara said.

For the past two years Zara has not been able to get out of her dreams. Sometimes she knows the difference between fantasy and reality, but sometimes it consumes her. It's like the dreams don't want her to leave, they want her to stay forever in their world. Her mom knows, they have seen many doctors, but none can decipher what is happening to her. Nothing like this has ever been reported, they are out of options. Zara tries to cope with it, but the dreams control her every sleeping moment. When she gets up in the morning she's exhausted from fighting her way out into the real world. 

Some people say she's special, but Zara hates that term. What's happening to her isn't special, it's horrible. No one else realizes what it feels like to be trapped every night, fighting to break free. Everyone else gets to sleep peacefully in their beds, while she is stuck in the fantasy world. 

"I'm sorry, but I think I found a way to help you." Scarlett said.

"Really?" Zara said hopefully. 

"I was up all night searching the best doctors in the country, and I came up with this." Scarlett pushed a stack of papers across the table. 

Dr. Constance Sykes, Psychiatrist was written at the top. 

"She is the best of the best, I talked with her on the phone last night and she is interested in your case. She said she has never heard of anything like this, and she will see you free of charge!" 

"Wow, I don't know how to thank you." 

"That's what best friends are for!"

"Why do you need a psychiatrist?" Dallas asked from behind her.

Zara and Scarlett whipped around to see Dallas staring at them in confusion. The only people that knew about Zara's condition were Scarlett, her mom, and now, Dr. Sykes. They looked at each other, helpless. Zara sighed. She has known for years that he has a crush on her, she actually wanted to start dating him, but her dreams demanded every spare moment she had. She didn't tell him about what was happening, just that she wasn't ready to date anyone. She didn't really have a choice now, she told him her biggest secret. 

"You have to promise not to tell anyone, ok? This can't get out." 

"I won't tell anyone." 

"I have this..condition. Supposedly I am the first person in history. When I fall asleep at night, I dream, but sometimes they aren't ordinary dreams. I have to fight with every ounce of energy to escape the world that wants to keep me there forever. Some nights the dreams trick my mind and I don't realize it's not reality for many hours, that's why I was late today. No doctor knows what is happening to me so Scarlett wanted to help. She found a psychiatrist that could help me, she is supposed to to be the best, so I'm hoping she can figure out what is wrong with me." 

"When did this start?"

"About two years ago."

"So that's why..."

"Yeah, I couldn't tell you at the time. But just so you know, I wanted to go out with you. The problem was, I didn't have any extra time, and I didn't want to hurt you." 

"I'm glad you told me, I want to help too, if there is anything you need just ask me." 

"Thank you for understanding."

As soon as Zara arrived home she called Dr. Sykes. She explained they didn't have any money left after all the bills from the past doctors. Dr. Sykes told her no to worry, she would fly out the next morning and see Zara with no charge. She wants to figure out why this is happening to her, no case like Zara's has ever been known. Zara had hope again, after years of doctors saying "I don't know" she finally heard "I think I can help." She told her mom when she got home from work, she was just as excited as Zara. She went to bed happy for the first time in two years, not worried about the dreams. 

As afternoon approached, Zara and her mom awaited Dr. Sykes anxiously with hope again lighting their eyes.